Job board sites, social media networking, and one-click application services have made it easier than ever to apply for jobs—but they’ve also significantly increased the competition. Each corporate job posting attracts an average of 250 job resumes, and if you’re not careful, your resume may never even be seen by the recruiter. Here are three things to consider when applying for a job online:

Tailor each resume. Most employers use some version of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter out applicants. If your resume doesn’t feature keywords that match up with the company’s job description, it’s unlikely to reach the recruiter.

Write a cover letter. While CV’s were always standard in the past, many job boards or online applications will list cover letters as “optional.” It shouldn’t be. Take the opportunity to describe exactly how your skills relate to this position and show that you’ve done your research.

Beware of phishing attempts. Unfortunately, employment scams are becoming more common, where fake recruiters solicit confidential information or seek some kind of financial compensation. Recruiters should never ask for your social security number or bank account information; any confidential information will be handled by HR once you’ve officially been hired.

Ultimate Software’s #12DaysofHCM is back by popular demand! For the next week, we’ll continue recapping some of the most talked about topics from 2017, and previewing what’s ahead for 2018.

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